Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: Guadalupe River

Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar

The Gristmill - Inside the Old Cotton Gin 1

Inside the Old Cotton Gin

One of the best destinations in our great state of Texas is a small town outside of New Braunfels named Gruene.  In the old world (Germany), it would be pronounced differently, but in Texas it is pronounced green, like the color.  This delightful little town must be experienced.  But the great news is that no matter what floats your boat, lifts your skirt, or shines your shoes, you can always find a fun activity in Gruene.  Antique shopping, arts and crafts, old fashioned candy stores, wine tasting, tubing down the Guadalupe River, sleeping the morning away at a bed and breakfast, catching a concert, or boot scootin’ the night away, Gruene has you covered.  But you can’t do all these activities without some energy and grub from the iconic Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar, located under the water tower in the heart of Gruene, next to the iconic Gruene Hall.

The Gristmill - Baby Back Ribs with Gristmill Fries & Baked Potato Salad

Baby Back Ribs with Gristmill Fries & Baked Potato Salad

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An Introduction to Rebekah

I talk with my hands.  I love to tell a story often by reenacting a scenario as if I am in a One Act Play.  I might even use props or the occasional sound effect.  So how does an animated and incredibly verbal person start to tell stories through written word?  Well, I am not sure, but I suppose we will learn together.

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The Guadalupe River

Looking at my life, some people may say I am a stereotypical Texan.  I was born here and am still growing up here.  I spent my childhood on the Gulf Coast, went to school in the Panhandle, lived 11 years in Central Texas, and now call North Texas home.  On our family pecan farm, at the age of 7, I learned to drive on a 1951 Ferguson tractor.  While the tractor is still running to this day, I graduated to a 1973 Chevy pick up at the age of 12.  I have been attacked by mockingbirds, chased armadillos at night, and been known to enjoy a hot summer day sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of the Guadalupe River.  I love traveling, but it is even sweeter to get to come home.  My Mom always says, “It’s a good thing you want to come back home; it means you like it here.”

When I was a child, every other summer my family piled into a van, ready to have an adventure for a couple of weeks.  We stopped at historical sites, museums, and parks.  I just though vacations were the greatest. I learned so much and then those experiences helped me at school, making connections to all sorts of subjects.  In college, I traveled to Bolivia for two months.  When I look back at key moments in my life that influenced and changed me, many of them resulted from my Bolivian experience. Traveling challenges me to think about the world differently.  There are countless people with beautiful stories, each pursuing a meaningful and purposeful life.

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Rebekah hiking the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin

Looking back, I have traveled to 30 states, 14 countries, 4 continents and always have a plan for another adventure.  Whether traveling to the town next door or across 10 time zones, meeting new people and learning about their culture, art, traditions, music, food, experiencing plants and nature, what brings pride to a community and their history is a joy to me.  I think it creates empathy and understanding that is powerful and life changing.

I hope you join us as we travel from Texas to beyond and I hope we can inspire you to travel and experience new things too.

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